Archives for March 2011

Some more information about the forthcoming documentary on Blue's 2011 Eurovision campaign has just been released by the BBC Press Office. The hour-long documentary has got the catchy title "Eurovision: Your Country Needs Blue" and will be shown sometime in the week beginning 16 April - day and time still to be confirmed. Here's what the press release says:

This year the UK is taking a completely new approach for their Eurovision entry: a known act, with a proven track record both here and internationally. Blue are up to the task. They've sold over 13 million records, won two Brit Awards and had 40 No. 1 singles worldwide.

But what does it take to be a winner at Eurovision? Graham Norton brings his own inimitable style of commentary to this one-hour special, which features some help from some of the biggest names in the business as Blue set out to discover what it takes to restore national pride. Expert opinion from Sir Cliff Richard, Robin Gibb, Robbie Williams, JLS, Arlene Phillips and John Barrowman contributes to the group's plan.

Drawing on a wealth of archive footage from previous years and following Blue at each stage, the documentary joins the band behind the scenes as they record and remix their song, work on a new image and meet choreographers, designers and stylists. There's insight into the tension and group dynamic as the band put themselves under increasing pressure and question whether the strength of their friendship and talent will be enough to get them through. Cameras also follow them as they hit the road on a publicity blitz to win over fans here and around Europe.

Finally, at the end of the show, viewers will see the finished song in a special performance that Blue think will do it. Next stop: Düsseldorf!

Are you looking forward to the show? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below.

Here at the BBC's Eurovision Towers (also known as Television Centre), we're putting the final touches to a documentary we're making about Blue's Eurovision campaign. The documentary will be shown sometime in April, but here as a bit of a taster, is an interview we conducted this week with some UK Eurovision legends.

Yes, Jay Aston, Mike Nolan and Cheryl Baker from The Original Bucks Fizz spoke about how it felt to win the Eurovision Song Contest, exactly 30 years ago this year. They also shared with us their thoughts on Blue's chances in the 2011 Contest, and just how important their famous skirt-ripping sequence was for their victory.

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The UK's Eurovision act Blue are doing "Something Funny For Money" by getting involved in the 2011 Red Nose Day appeal for Comic Relief.

We went behind the scenes at a special studio session last week as the boys recorded some films that will be shown on Red Nose Day's epic telethon. The films will show people how easy it is to raise money for Comic Relief by dressing up, baking and selling cakes, or even washing cars.

You'll be able to see the films if you watch Red Nose Day on BBC One on Friday night from 7pm. Here's a sneaky peak now - and don't forget to do your bit and donate some money via the Comic Relief website!

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Tuesday 15th March is an important day in preparing for the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest. In Düsseldorf today, a meeting has taken place of representatives of the 43 competing countries, in order to decide the running order of the two Semi-Finals.

A draw has also taken place to decide the position that each of the 'Big Five' countries (the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain) will perform in the Grand Final. Here's the vital info:

GRAND FINAL

11. FRANCE - Amoury Vassili, "Sognu"

12. ITALY - Raphael Gulazzi, "Madness of Love"

14. UNITED KINGDOM - Blue, "I Can"

16. GERMANY - Lena, "Taken by a Stranger"

22. SPAIN - Lucía Pérez, "Que me quiten lo bailao"

All of the other 20 places in the grand final will only be decided after the two Semi-Finals. 10 countries will qualify from each of the two Semi-Finals below:

SEMI-FINAL #1, Tuesday 10th May

1. POLAND - Magdalena Tul, "First Class Ticket to Heaven"

2. NORWAY - Stella Mwangi, "Haba Haba"

3. ALBANIA - Aurela Gaçe, "Feel the Passion"

4. ARMENIA - Emmy, "Boom Boom"

5. TURKEY - Yüksek Sadakat, "Live it Up"

6. SERBIA - Nina, "Čaroban"

7. RUSSIA - Alexey Vorobyov, "Get You"

8. SWITZERLAND - Anna Rossinelli, "In Love For a While"

9. GEORGIA - Eldrine, "One More Day"

10. FINLAND - Paradise Oscar, "Da Da Dam"

11. MALTA - Glen Vella, "One Life"

12. SAN MARINO - Senit, "Stand By"

13. CROATIA - Daria, "Celebrate"

14. ICELAND - Sigurjón's Friends, "Coming Home"

15. HUNGARY - Kati Wolf, "What About My Dreams"

16. PORTUGAL - Homens da Luta, "A luta é alegria"

17. LITHUANIA - Evelina Sašenko, "C'est ma vie"

18. AZERBAIJAN - Ell and Niki, "Running Scared"

19. GREECE - Loukas Giorkas ft Stereo Mike, "Watch My Dance"

United Kingdom viewers are able to vote in this first semi-final. They are not able to vote in the second semi-final.

SEMI-FINAL #2, Thursday 12th May

1. BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA - Dino Merlin, "Love in Rewind"

2. AUSTRIA - Nadine Beiler, "The Secret is Love"

3. NETHERLANDS - 3JS, "Never Alone"

4. BELGIUM - Witloof Bay, "With Love Baby"

5. SLOVAKIA - TWiiNS, "I'm Still Alive"

6. UKRAINE - Mika Newton, "Angels"

7. MOLDOVA - Zdob şi Zdub, "So Lucky"

8. SWEDEN - Eric Saade, "Popular"

9. CYPRUS - Christos Mylordos, "I Loved You Like an Angel"

10. BULGARIA - Poli Genova "Na Inat"

11. FYR MACEDONIA - Vlatko Ilievski, "Rusinka"

12. ISRAEL - Dana International, "Ding Dong"

13. SLOVENIA - Maja Keuc, "No One"

14. ROMANIA - Hotel FM, "Change"

15. ESTONIA - Getter Jaani, "Rockefeller Street"

16. BELARUS - Anastasia Vinnikova, "I Love Belarus"

17. LATVIA - Musiqq, "Angel in Disguise"

18. DENMARK - A Friend in London, "New Tomorrow"

19. IRELAND - Jedward, "Lipstick"

Very soon, the BBC's Eurovision Website will be delighted to host all 43 countries' songs for you to watch and rewatch so you can make your own mind up about who to support! So make sure you come back and visit us again for all the very latest Eurovision news, videos and gossip!

Here are the lyrics for the UK's 2011 Eurovision Song Contest entry, "I Can", performed by Blue. The song will receive its world TV premiere performance on BBC One tonight, Friday 11th March, on The Graham Norton Show. The programme is currently scheduled to run from 22:35 to 23:20 GMT, with Blue's appearance due at approximately 23:10.

You were the eyes in the face of fortuneI lost my way and I couldn’t find youOh, oh no

We’re not the first ones to be dividedWon’t be the last to be reunitedNoOh no(oh no)

Eurovision fans with a fondness for nostalgia are in seventh heaven this morning, following the news that Israel has decided to sent their legendary winning act Dana International back to represent their country in the Eurovision Song Contest.

I'm sure that most of you remember Dana International's famous 1998 Eurovision-winning song, "Diva" - if it's slipped your memory, here's a clip...

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So can Dana grab glory for a second time? Her song for 2011 is called "Ding Dong" (no, not the 1975-winning tune from Teach-In!) -listen to it here on YouTube and let us know what you think of her chances by leaving a comment below.

Hungary has also revealed the song they'll be sending to Düsseldorf - Kati Wolf, a winner of the Hungarian version of X Factor, will perform the 80s disco-style song "What About My Dreams". The song will be rewritten to be performed in English, but here's the original version for you tolisten to on YouTube. What do you think?

It's hard to believe just how quickly the last few weeks have flown past, but in exactly a week from now, the whole world will get to hear Blue's Eurovision song, "I Can"...!

But what have the boys been up to recently? And what are they going to be up to over the next week? Here's a round-up of the key dates from their diary...

Earlier this week, the boys finished the final version of their Eurovision song "I Can". You can see how the final session went (but no clips from the song just yet - sorry!) by watching the video below.

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Yesterday, Thurs 3rd March, the guys recorded some special video inserts that will be shown during Comic Relief on BBC One on Fri 18th March. It was a great fun shoot, and we'll have some exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from that shoot on this very News Blog next week. Stay tuned for that!

Today, Friday 4th March, Blue are here in BBC Television Centre recording some interviews and footage for the special TV documentary that will be shown on BBC One in April. If you're following us on Twitter or Facebook, you'll get to see some exclusive behind-the-scenes photos from today's recording.

Then next week things REALLY start to get busy, busy, busy!

On Monday, the boys will have a session of choreography and training for all of their forthcoming TV appearances - both specifically for the Graham Norton show and also generally for any other TV shows that they may be turning up on (more on that next week!).

On Tuesday, the guys will be recording a pop video for "I Can" in a top-secret location. All I can say at the moment is that it's going to be a breathtaking shoot - and that I hope none of the guys suffer from a fear of heights!

Wednesday sees the guys go through their final vocal coaching session and choreography rehearsals for their appearance on The Graham Norton Show. Then on Thursday evening, they'll record the show in front of a live studio audience in London.

And then, of course, it's the moment everyone will have been waiting for - the transmission of The Graham Norton Show on BBC One / BBC One HD at 10.35pm on Friday 11th March. I can't wait! Can you?

It's been just over a week since our last update, and blimey, things have been busy with the other Eurovision countries' national finals! A whole host of nations have now revealed their songs for 2011. Click on the links below to watch and listen to the songs via YouTube.

BBC links

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